Automatic air-coupling.



R. A. McCURRY. AUTOMATIC AIR COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1a, 1916.

1,205,000. Patehted Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lNI/ENTDR A'TTORIVE Y8 R. A. McCURRY.

AUTOMATIC AIR COUPLING. APPLICATION man MAR. 18; I916.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Q INVENTOR R 0y .51 JIIQ 02:, 77:

wlnvssEs ATTORNEYS a. WASHING mu. p. 1..

ROY A. MCCURRY, OF PENSACOLA, NORTH CAROLINA.

AUTOMATIC AIR-COUPLING.

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Application filed March 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, ROY A. MoCURRY, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Pensacola, in the countyof Yancey and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Automatic Air-Couplings, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has relation to train pipe couplings which are automaticin action both in coupling and uncoupling without requiring anyattention on the part of a brakeman or other train attendant ornecessitating such attendant going between the cars to couple or toloosen the coupling.

This invention provides an air pipe cou pling which operatesautomatically when the.

cars are run together to couple and which parts automatically when thecars of a train separate, thereby simplifying the work of making uptrains and lessening the hazard to those engaged in such work.

The invention provides a coupling of the character hereinbeforeindicated which will maintain an air tight oint, which will conform tothe various movements of the cars without having its efliciencyimpaired, and which will be certain in action when the cars are runtogether.

lVhile the drawings show the preferred embodiment of the invention it isto be unrelation of the parts when connected, Fig.

2 is a detail perspective View of the angle cock and Y connection, Fig.3' is a detail perspective view of an end portion of the handle by meansof which the movable part of the angle cock is operated, Fig. 4: is adetail perspective view of a portion of the angle cock, Fig. 5 isa topplan view of one of the members of the air coupler, the Y connection andone of the air pipes being in section, and showing the extension pipe ofthe other member in normal engagement with the pipe having the funnel.Fig. 6 is a detail view of the outer ends of cooperat ing membersshowing the air pipe of one member partly received in the guide of'th'eSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Serial No. 85,165.

. and thimble, and Fig. is a perspective viewv of the thimble.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The train or air pipe coupling comprises similar or like members whichare disposed so as to coact and couple the connection between theadjacent ends of two cars when the latter are run together. Inasmuch asthe two members are of similar or like formation a detailed descriptionof one will suliice for a clear understanding of the couplmg.

The numeral 1 designates the end sills of two cars which are providedwith an air pipe coupling embodying the invention. The train pipe or airline is indicated at 2 and is provided in its length with an angle cock8, which may be of any usual construction and adapted to be operatedfrom either side of the car without requiring the brake- 7 man or otherattendant to pass between the cars for such purpose. A handle 4 or likeoperating part is fitted to the projecting stem of the movable part ofthe angle cock and the outer end of such handle is connected withlaterally extending rods 5, which project to the sides of the car inconvenient position to be operated for opening or closing the angle cockas'may be required without the necessity of the brakeman or otherattendant passing between the cars for such purpose.

A Y connection 6 is fitted to the outer'end of the train pipe 2 and airpipes 7 and 8 are connected to the branch openings thereof. The airpipes 7 and 8 are disposed side by side in longitudinal and parallelrelation and may be of any size or material. The outer end of the pipe 8is provided with a funnel '9, which constitutes a mouth or guide to givedirection to the complemental part of the coupling when connecting thetrain pipes of adjacent cars.- The funnel 9 faces outward and it is ofsuch ample dimensions at its receiving end as to insure'the reception ofthe complemental part of the coupler 7 the receiving end of the" tunnelor guide 9 of the pipe 8. A portion of the pipe 7 extends along a sideof the funnel 9 as indicated at? and a portion projects beyond thefunnel 9 parallel with the prolongation of tl e pipe 8 as indicatedat 7As indicated most clearly in Fig. the members comprisingthc air couplingare disposed out of longitudinal' alinement to admit of the projectingportion 7- of one member alining with the pipe 8 of the complementalmember. This arrangement brings the projectingportion 7 of one couplingmember in longitudinal alinement with the center of the tunnel or guide9* of the complement-a1 member with the result that the projectingmembers 7 readily enter the guides 9 of the complemental members whensuch members are brought together in the act of coupling the cars. A.suitable connection 10 is provided for seciiiring the pipe 7 to theouter end ofthe funnel or flared" guide 9.

A projecting portion 7 of the pipe 7 is flexible and preferably consistsof a length of hose pipe which may be of any manufacture and the saidhose has an internal spring,

as shown, for stiffening the same and holding' it normally in extendedposition. The outerend of the pipe 7 is provided with a inetal tip whichcomprises a rounded end 11, a flange 12, and a threaded shank 13.

The rounded end 11 is formed in. its sides with a plurality of openings14 hr the passage of the air. A thimble 15 is fitted into the" outer endof the part 7 and is secured to such part in any substantial way. Thetiphasits' shank I3 threaded into the thimble 15 and a gasket 16 isinterposed between the" flange"12 andthe outer end of the thimble 15 toinsure the formation of a tight joint and such gasket projects beyondthe edges oi? the flange 12 and a flange formed at the outer end of thethimble 15 so as to provide a flexiblelip to engage the inner wall ofthe funnel or guide 9 so as to insure'the forma tion of an air tightjoint. The gasket 16 may be of rubber, leather, or like materialgenerally employed as packing to insure the formation of a tight jointwhenever required.

In the installation of the invention it is to be understood that eachcar so equipped is provided at opposite ends with coupling members, thesame being so arranged as to insure the cooperation of the parts whenthe cars are run together. The funnels or flared guides 9 are designedto receive the tips at the extremities of the projecting portions 7 ofthe pipes 7 so as to direct such tips into the constricted ends of thefunnels so as to insure the formation" of tight joints as inclicatedmest clea ly inFi-g. 7. The parts are er pensive si -c ispness that whenthe cars are run together the complemental portions of the couplingmembers are subjected to a degree of pressure to hold the extremities ofthe parts 7" within the inner ends of the tunnels 9. Provision is had ina measme for such result by having the projecting portions 7 madeflexible. The rounded ends 11 of the tips also assist materially ingiving proper'direction'to the parts when the members of the couplingare run together. -inasmuch as the coupling is free from positiveengaging parts it is obvious that the coupling will readily andautomatically separate when the cars of a. train are uncoupled; Theprovisionof the Y-connection 6 and the two air pipes 7 and 8 insures aconnection between thet 'ain pipes of cars when coupled. This isessential to theproper working of the airbrakes and other working partsof the cars depending upon pressure derived from the train pipe or airline. The tipped end 11' of the extension 7 of the pipe 7 of one memberis adapted to slip into the pipe 8, as indicated in Fig. 5, therebymaintaining a close joint and providing for play between the parts 8 and7*. The inner walls of the pipes 8 will be finished in a manner to admitof the tip 11 readily entering and having tree play in the pipe 8.

1. A train pipe coupling for railway cars, comprising similar members,each of said membersembodying two of the pipes having connection withthe train pipe and projeeting outwardly therefrom to unequal distances,a funnel at the outer end of the shorter air pipe, atip at the outer endofthe long air pipe, and provided in its sides with openings and aflexible hp at the base of the tip projecting outwardly therefrom toinsure close contact with the inner wall of the cooperating tunnel.

2'. A coupling for the train pipe of railway cars, the same comprisingtwo air pipes connected with the train pipe and projectlng therefrom tounequal distances, a funnel at the outer end of the shorter air pipe, atip at the outer end of the longer a-ir pipe formed with a rounded endhaving openings in its sides, and a gasket confined between a portionofthe tip and air plpe and projecting beyond the sides of such tip toinsure the formation ot a close joint between the tip and cooperatingfunnel when the members of the coupling are connected.

3. A coupling for the train pipe of railway cars, the same comprisingtwo pipes haying connection with the train pipe and pro ecting therefromto unequal distances, a funnel at the outer end of the shorter air prpe,the projecting portion of the longer air pipe being flexible and a tipat the outer end of the flexible portion of the longer air pipe, suchtip being rounded and having. openings in its sides and constructed toinsurethe-formation of a tight joint with the funnel of the coactingmember.

4. An air coupling for the train pipe of railway cars, the samecomprising similar or like coniplemental members, each consisting of aY-connection attached to the train pipe, two air pipes fitted to theY-connection and projecting therefrom to unequal distances, theprojecting portion of the longer pipe being flexible, a funnel at theouter end of the shorter air pipe, a tip fitted to the outer end of thelonger air pipe and comprising a rounded end in the sides of which areformed openings, and a gasket secured to the projecting part of thelonger air pipe by means of the tip and adapted to cooperate with thetunnel to insure the formation of a tight joint.

5. A train pipe coupling for railroad cars, comprising similar memberseach having a connection with the train pipe and consisting of two airpipes projecting from the train pipe to unequal distances, a funnel atthe outer end of the shorter pipe and a tip at the outer end of thelonger pipe, said tip having a flexible lip extending outwardlytherefrom to insure close contact with the inner wall of the cooperativefunnel.

(LA train pipe coupling for railroad cars, comprising similar memberseach having a connection with the train pipe and consisting of two airpipes projecting from the train pipe to unequal distances, a funnel atthe outer end of the shorter pipe and a tip at the outer end of thelonger pipe, said tip having a flexible lip extending outwardlytherefrom to insure close contact with the inner wall of the cooperativefunnel said longer pine being flexible over a portion of its length forthe purpose specified.

ROY A. McGURR-Y. lVitnesses FRED Pnorrrrrr, C. T, ALDRICH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of lPatents, Washington, D. C.

